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Europe and Back by Rev. Dave Andrus (continued from page 2) On Sunday morning, there was a farewell gathering, and then lunch. Then we joined about half the group on a bus back to Oslo, to the airport. We followed the lines and Norwegian signs and got on a plane to London. At Heathrow, we had to wait for an hour for our luggage to be unloaded and delivered, then we were met by Gordon Temple and his wife, Pat. Gordon is the director of Torch Trust. They drove us out of London and north to the small town of Market Harborough, where Torch Trust now makes its home. Gordon Temple turned out to be a very interesting chap. Having bought and sold several companies of his own and traveling the world round, he decided at age 50 that he would rather do something with a more lasting impact. Being a trustee of Torch, he was keenly aware that it was in need of an executive director. So, in 2000, he assumed leadership. Torch started in 1931 with a Braille magazine designed to share the Gospel and encourage blind Christians. In the mid-1950s, fellowship groups were started for blind people by a couple who loved the Lord. In 1959, these two activities were joined under the organization Torch Trust. The ministry continued to grow, providing the magazine and developing more fellowship groups. In 2000, under Gordon Temple's direction, several more changes took place. The old English mansion in which Torch Trust had resided for many years was sold. A new building in Market Harborough was built. This made it possible to automate the ministry and to open the organization to many new people in the town. Torch Trust serves blind people in the United Kingdom and in several countries in Africa. A lending library, hymnals, and magazines in Braille, large type, and audio recordings—along with fellowship groups—reach over 10,000 blind people with the Gospel. These are similar things that Lutheran Blind mission does here in the United States.
But there are some differences between Torch and LBM. Torch has many more fellowship groups than LBM, well over 300 through the world. Certainly, this is because they have been about this for 50 years. LBM offers the Christian Blind Institute, our training school for blind people, and the Adult Braille Christian Reader. Also, LBM does most of its work with the support of volunteers, where Torch Trust has about forty paid workers. All agreed that ongoing discussions will enhance both groups and the spreading of the Gospel. While there, we were also able to meet and spend time with the director of Compass Braille, Colin Dowling. Compass Braille works primarily in India, building partnerships and supplying Braille materials. In that LBM supported a blind missionary in India, Rev. Paul Daniel Dennis, and provides magazines and training through the Christian Blind Institute to blind people, this visit also proved valuable. Plans are underway to collaborate and connect work. Torch Trust owns a house in Market Harborough, and two of its employees, retired missionaries Mike and Janet Stafford live there. They provide housing for guests of Torch Trust, and we were honored to stay with them. The Staffords share a love for the Lord and His work with the blind. One evening, we had dinner at a pub located on one of the locks of the canals that intersect England. Before dinner, we posed for a picture:
We were met at the airport in Stockholm by Tesfaye Deriba, a former employee of Syskonbandet, and his pastor, Yonas. They took us to the offices of Syskonbandet, where we spent the night, and then picked us up the next morning for a little sightseeing. We visited the Old City of Stockholm, where we walked the narrow streets and saw the changing of the guard at the palace. As the relieved guard marched away, they marched right by Dave, but it sounded like they were marching right toward him! What a feeling to visit another country and have its armed guards marching at you!
We spent the afternoon with Tesfaye and Yonas at their church, discussing ministry, especially to the blind. Then we traveled to Tesfaye’s home and met his family.
On Saturday, Dave had the opportunity to meet with the leaders of OMVIE: Operation Mission to the Visually Impaired of Ethiopia. In addition to being involved with Syskonbandet, Tesfaye is also the director of OMVIE. Tesfaye lost his sight at age 4 due to measles. (It was not known in his village that a child with measles should be kept in the dark to protect the eyes.) As a child, Tesfaye was sent to the school for the blind in Ethiopia. In 1979, 18-year-old Tesfaye ran for his life because the Communists who took over Ethiopia at that time were persecuting Christians. Along with many of his countrymen, he fled to Sweden and settled there. But he did not forget his blind brothers and sisters back in Ethiopia, so helped to create OMVIE. Dave explained what LBM does, and why, at the outreach centers. The OMVIE leaders were very interested. They took notes and asked many questions. On Sunday, we attended Tesfaye's congregation. Dave extended greetings to them from the Christians in the United States. He also took a moment to explain what LBM does and why he was in Sweden. We were surprised at how few people were in church as compared to the membership it held. If you have ever been in Europe in a service, you will understand. This made us thankful for the active congregations in the United States, especially because of the volunteers. Later that day, Dave met with leaders of the Ethiopian congregation that meets within the Swedish congregation. He talked about leadership from the basis of an oral culture, using the examples of kings Saul and David to illustrate bad and good leaders. On Monday, the last day, we met with Syskonbandet, the society that serves blind people in Sweden. With the director, we evaluated the retreat. The director, who is sighted, also asked more questions concerning God’s view of blind people. While at the retreat, Dave mentioned that blindness is not bad or of sin. Rather, it is an earthly circumstance that God uses for good. He referenced the life of Joseph: Genesis 37–50, especially 50:20, and Romans 8:28. This topic and theme was intriguing and new to most people at the retreat. Dave was asked to write more about this and to send it for inclusion in their magazines. That evening, we met with two of the young people of Syskonbandet. They have both been on mission trips to Ethiopia to work with the blind there and were very interested in learning more about the ministry of LBM.
Early on Tuesday morning, we traveled to the airport, boarded the plane with no trouble, and headed home. Sixteen hours later, as the taxi pulled into the driveway, our girls came running out and gave us long hugs. It was good to be home.
End
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